AP World History Review

Song China (960-1279)

  • Centralized state structure with a meritocratic bureaucracy.

  • Confucianism and Neo-Confucianism were the dominant ideologies.

  • Imperial bureaucracy expanded, and the civil service exam became more influential for selecting officials.

  • Economic prosperity led by advancements in agriculture (Champa rice), navigation (magnetic compass), and shipbuilding (junk ships).

Islamic World

  • Spread of Islam through military expansion, trade networks, and Sufi missionary activity.

  • Intellectual innovations included advancements in trigonometry, algebra, and medicine, with the House of Wisdom in Baghdad as a major center of learning.

  • Rise of Turkic Muslim empires, such as the Seljuk and Mamluk Sultanates, which played significant roles in regional power dynamics.

South and Southeast Asia

  • Spread of Islam and the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate in India, leading to cultural interactions and conflicts.

  • Bhakti movement promoted personal devotion, while Sufi movements emphasized mystical experiences and contributed to Islam's spread.

  • Land-based empires like Vijayanagara and Khmer, and sea-based states like Srivijaya and Majapahit, dominated regional trade and power.

Americas

  • Maya civilization developed a sophisticated writing system, advanced mathematics (concept of zero), and accurate calendars.

  • Aztec Empire featured a decentralized power structure with a tributary system, relying on tribute collection from conquered regions.

  • Inca Empire maintained a centralized power structure and implemented the mit'a system, a form of mandatory public service.

  • North American civilizations, including the Mississippian culture, known for mound-building and agricultural practices.

Africa

  • Swahili civilization consisted of city-states along the East African coast, focused on maritime trade and cultural exchange.

  • Great Zimbabwe accumulated wealth through trade networks, evidenced by its impressive stone structures.

  • Hausa kingdoms engaged in the trans-Saharan trade, connecting North Africa with sub-Saharan Africa.

  • Kingdom of Ethiopia, with its unique Christian identity, maintained independence and developed distinct religious traditions.

Europe

  • Dominance of Christianity influenced social, political, and cultural life.

  • The Crusades aimed to reclaim the Holy Land but also led to increased trade and cultural exchange.

  • Feudalism and manorialism were the dominant socio-economic systems, structuring land ownership and labor relations.

  • Beginnings of state centralization under powerful monarchs, who sought to consolidate power and establish centralized control.

Silk Roads

  • Facilitated trade and cultural exchange across Eurasia, connecting East and West.

  • Innovations included paper money, credit, banking systems, caravanserai (roadside inns), and specialized saddles for camels.

  • Key cities along the Silk Roads were Kashgar and Samarkand, serving as major trading hubs and cultural centers.

Mongol Empire

  • Largest contiguous land-based empire in history, stretching across Asia and into Europe.

  • Pax Mongolica fostered trade and cultural exchange, promoting stability and facilitating the movement of goods and ideas.

  • Yam system enhanced communication and trade, utilizing relay stations and messengers to transmit information and goods efficiently.

Indian Ocean Trade

  • Expanded due to the decline of the Silk Roads and advancements in maritime technology.

  • Maritime technology included the magnetic compass, astrolabe, and lateen sail, enabling long-distance navigation.

  • Key cities in the Indian Ocean trade network were the Swahili city-states, Malacca, and Gujarat, serving as major ports and commercial centers.

Trans-Saharan Trade

  • Growth driven by the introduction of camel saddles and caravanserai, facilitating desert travel and trade.

  • Key commodities traded included gold, salt, kola nuts, and horses, essential for regional economies and power.

  • Mali Empire, under the rule of Mansa Musa, gained prominence and wealth through its control of gold trade and Islamic scholarship.

Cultural Effects of Connectivity

  • Spread of religions, such as Zen Buddhism, which disseminated from East Asia to other parts of Asia and beyond.

  • Technologies like papermaking, movable type, and gunpowder spread along trade routes, impacting communication, warfare, and intellectual life.

  • Flourishing cities like Hangzhou, Samarkand, and Kashgar became centers of trade, culture, and intellectual exchange.

Environmental Effects of Connectivity

  • Diffusion of crops like bananas, Champa rice, and citrus fruits, enhancing agricultural diversity and productivity.

  • Spread of diseases like the bubonic plague, which had devastating demographic and social consequences.

Gunpowder Empires

  • Songhai, Safavid, Mughal, Ottoman, and Manchu empires rose to prominence using gunpowder weapons, transforming warfare and territorial control.

  • Controlled vast territories and trade routes, consolidating power and wealth through military strength and strategic dominance.

Ottoman Empire

  • Controlled the Dardanelles Strait, a crucial waterway connecting the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.

  • Expanded using gunpowder weaponry, exemplified by Mehmed II's conquest of Constantinople in 1453.

  • Sunni Islam was dominant, shaping laws, culture, and governance within the empire.

Safavid Empire

  • Located in Persia (modern-day Iran) and declared itself a Shi'a Muslim state, distinguishing itself from the Sunni Ottoman Empire.

  • Conflict with Sunni Ottoman Empire resulted in religious and territorial clashes, shaping regional geopolitics.

Mughal Empire

  • Sunni Muslim empire in India, founded by Babur, which expanded through military conquest.

  • Used gunpowder technology effectively, contributing to its military successes and territorial expansion.

  • Became prosperous through efficient administration and land revenue systems, generating wealth and stability.

Qing Dynasty

  • Established by the Manchu, who overthrew the Ming dynasty and expanded territory through military conquest.

  • Consolidated control over vast regions, including Manchuria, Mongolia, and parts of Central Asia.

Administration of Power

  • Bureaucracies and Militaries: Large bureaucracies were essential for administering vast empires. The Ottoman devshirme system exemplifies how states recruited and integrated diverse populations into their administrative and military structures.

  • Religion, Art, and Architecture: These elements were used to reinforce the ruler's authority and legitimacy. The Divine Right of Kings and monumental architecture served to legitimize monarchical power.

Technological Advancements

  • Adoption of the compass, astrolabe, lateen sail, and astronomical charts enabled European exploration by providing tools for navigation and mapping.

  • Shipbuilding Innovations: The Caravel, Carrack, and Fluyt provided Europeans with advantages in maritime trade and warfare due to their improved design and cargo capacity.

Columbian Exchange

  • The transfer of diseases, plants, animals, and people between hemispheres caused significant demographic and economic shifts, impacting indigenous populations and transforming agricultural practices.

Sea-Based Empires

  • European powers (Portugal, Spain, Dutch, British) established empires driven by mercantilism and the pursuit of wealth, leading to the colonization of vast territories and the exploitation of resources.

Economic Strategies

  • Mercantilism, joint-stock companies, and the Atlantic system shaped global trade and finance, influencing economic policies and colonial development.

Causes of European Exploration

  • Adopted Technologies: Europe leveraged technologies like the magnetic compass (from China), astrolabe, lateen sail, and astronomical charts for navigation and exploration, facilitating long-distance voyages.

  • State-Sponsored Exploration: European monarchs sought to expand their power and access resources through maritime exploration, leading to increased competition and rivalry among European powers.

Economies of Empire Building

  • Mercantilism: A state-controlled economic system focused on maximizing exports, minimizing imports, and accumulating precious metals to enhance national wealth and power.

The Enlightenment

  • Rationalism, empiricism, individualism, natural rights, and social contract theory challenged traditional authority and influenced political revolutions.

The Industrial Revolution

  • Origins in Great Britain: Favorable geography, resources, agricultural revolution, legal protection of private property, and accumulation of capital fostered industrial growth.

  • Technological Advancements: Factory system, specialization of labor, steam engine, and railroads revolutionized production, transportation, and urbanization.

Imperialist Ideas

  • New Imperialism: Driven by nationalism, scientific racism, Social Darwinism, and civilizing missions, leading to the colonization and exploitation of Africa, Asia, and Oceania.

Global Economic Changes (1750-1900)

  • Need for Raw Materials: The driving force behind imperialism, as industrial nations sought resources to fuel their factories.

  • Export Economies: Colonial economies focused on exporting raw materials and cash crops, making them dependent on industrial powers.

Causes of Migration

  • Economic Causes: Demographic change, famine, and the search for work drove migration patterns globally.

  • Technological Causes: Steamships and railroads facilitated migration, making it easier and more accessible.

The Shifting of State Powers

  • Decline of Empires: The Ottoman Empire weakened by internal strife and external pressures, leading to the rise of the Young Turks and increasing nationalism.

The Causes of World War I

  • Militarism: Arms race and aggressive military postures created a climate of tension and suspicion.

  • Alliance System: Entangling alliances drew nations into conflict, escalating regional disputes into global war.

  • Imperialism: Competition for colonies and resources fueled rivalries and conflicts among European powers.

  • Nationalism: Intense patriotism and hostility towards other nations contributed to an environment of aggression and animosity.

World War II

  • Treaty of Versailles: Harsh terms imposed on Germany created resentment and instability, contributing to the rise of extremist ideologies.

  • Rise of Nazism: Hitler's exploitation of economic hardship and nationalistic sentiment led to the consolidation of totalitarian power.

  • Aggressive Militarism: Germany's expansionist policies and violations of the Treaty of Versailles sparked international conflict.

Rise of Superpowers

  • After World War II, the US and Soviet Union emerged as superpowers, driven by economic and technological advancements, as well as ideological influence.

Cold War

  • Ideological differences, mutual mistrust, and the Soviet Union's expansionist policies in Eastern Europe fueled the Cold War, leading to proxy conflicts and nuclear tensions.

Decolonization

  • World War II weakened imperial powers, creating opportunities for colonies to gain independence. This process, however, was often fraught with violence and influenced by Cold War dynamics, shaping post-colonial societies.

Globalization

  • Globalization contributed to the spread of diseases, including pandemics like the 1918 influenza and HIV/AIDS, posing global health challenges.